Pedigree cat or Housecat?

Why a purebred cat?

If you buy a purebred cat, you will know a lot about the cat’s typical temperament and what to expect, the typical traits of the breed you have chosen. Each breed has its typical great look and temperament, and by choosing a breed you can find the cat that suits your personality and life best. There are significant differences between a peaceful Ragdoll and a very active Siamese, a family-oriented Maine Coon and a territorial Abyssinian. Also with a purebred cat the breeder will have good knowledge of the lines and especially the temperament of the mother is important. Thus buying a purebred cat will give you a more predictable cat.

From a breeder you will be getting a young kitten between 12 and 16 weeks that is more easily taught the habits of a new family and home compared to a grown cat. Buying a purebred cat will typically give you the kitten at an ideal age for adjusting to a new home, with the security a good upbringing provides. A good quality breeder will have socialized the cat well in the sensible period between 2 and 8 weeks, so the kitten is well used to being handled and trust people.

Buying from an experienced, responsible breeder will increase the chance of having a healthy cat. A responsible breeder will know that the kitten’s parents has good health and has followed all health precautions. This can be reassured by finding a breeder with good references and who is into health programs for the actual breed. Each breed has its own health program with diseases the breeders work to avoid. Getting a kitten from a breeder who knows about the breed’s weaknesses is an advantage. A registered breeder is required to follow health rules and vaccinate (at least first step) and give the kitten a veterinarian health check before selling. The kitten will also be at least 12 weeks old.

Why a domestic housecat

Getting a housecat with no pedigree as a pet gives you an opportunity to save a homeless cat through adopting from a shelter. Estimates made by animal organizations in Norway give the number of homeless cats to between 30 000 and 50 000. There are so many cats without a caring and responsible home! Getting a kitten from a street-mix random-bred cat will also give one less potential homeless cat, as it is more difficult to find life-long homes for these cats.

Housecats are also obviously cheaper to buy than a purebred pedigree cat; a lot of kittens are given away for free. They are much cheaper to insure, as there are normally no life insurance included, only veterinarian treatment.

From a health perspective, a housecat might be less inbred than a purebred cat. A lower degree of inbreeding will normally lead to a better immune system and accordingly better chances of good health, especially compared to many purebred cats from breeds with small populations and a high degree of inbreeding. However, a housecat’s pedigree is rarely known for many generations, especially not on the paternal line, so this is difficult to tell without genetic testing. At least one does not have to deal with the specific health issues typical for a specific breed.